FG Eyes 50,000 Jobs from FCT Agro-Processing Zones Project

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government is targeting the creation of 50,000 jobs in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project direct and indirect jobs in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The FCT Minister of State, Mrs Mariya Mahmoud, stated this in Gwagwalada on Wednesday at the commencement of the distribution of agricultural inputs to the FCT SAPZ project’s beneficiaries to boost agricultural production.

Represented by the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat for FCT Administration, Mr Lawan Geidam, she stated that women would constitute 40 per cent of the beneficiaries.

The Minister said the 50,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created within the five-year duration of the SAPZ project.

Mrs Mahmoud identified food as the most essential need for human survival, adding that agriculture plays a vital role in meeting this need, and said agriculture remained the mainstay of the nation’s economy, providing livelihoods to millions of people and ensuring food security.

The Minister, however, said that farmers and agro-entrepreneurs face numerous and complex challenges, ranging from climate change, poor agricultural practices, and access to markets.

She stressed, “These challenges require innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to address them.

“It is for these reasons that the FCT Administration has fully embraced the SAPZ Project, designed in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The project is designed to inject the much-needed manpower, resources and investments to reinvigorate the agricultural sector for sustainable development.”

Mahmoud expressed optimism that the agricultural inputs would be a vital catalyst for building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in the FCT.

She identified the inputs as bull calves, animal feeds, improved seeds, fertilisers, crop protection chemicals and equipment.

The minister said that 5,000 crops and livestock farmers have been profiled and cleared to benefit from the support in the first phase of the SAPZ intervention.

Mahmoud reaffirmed FCTA’s unwavering commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the SAPZ project.

Speaking as the mandate secretary of the agriculture and rural development secretariat, Mr Geidam explained that SAPZ was initiated to unlock the potential of the livestock sub-sector in the FCT.

This, he said, was being done by providing critical financing and support to drive the growth, productivity, and sustainability of the sector.

He said that the project would also train various groups and provide funding for the operations of the groups in their respective agricultural ventures.

According to him, the support is expected to reduce the high cost of production to enable them to maximise the farmer’s earnings and improve their livelihood.

On her part, SAPZ Project Coordinator in FCT, Mrs Umma Abubakar, said that the project was a flagship initiative designed to revolutionise agriculture in Nigeria.

Mrs Abubakar added that the project was also expected to promote the livestock value chain and concentrate on industrial processing and marketing of beef and dairy products.

“It also aimed at developing the rural areas, increasing household income, and fostering job creation in rural agricultural communities, targeting youths and women.

“This in the long run will enhance food and nutrition security in FCT,” she said.